Auxiliary fuel-atomizer for internal combustion engines



Aug. 24, 1937. J. E. GOMBOS I AUXILIARY FUEL ATOMIZER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. '19, 1934 I I M Q 3 INVENTOR. k/Of/N E. 0M505 M W W w m A Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES AUXILIARY FUEL-ATOMIZER FOR IN- TERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES John E. Gombos, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor of one-half to Egbert Stockert, Vienna, Austria Application September 19, i934, Serial No. 744,720 In HungarySeptember 19, 1933 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in atomizing devices for use in conjunction with internal combustion engines, and has for its object to permit of the attainment of practically perfect combustion of a very wide range of fuels including those of high boiling point, with the usual types of carburettor, and at all speeds of the engine, without the necessity for alterations in or special adjustment of the carburettor. For this purpose, the present invention provides a novel type of unit for interposition between the engine and the carburettor comprising an intake manifold of special construction and in combination therewith, and with the exhaust systemis set up, and the engine loses efficiency and runs uneconomically. It has also been proposed to heat the induction pipe of internal combustion engines with a view to assisting the vaporization and combustion of heavy fuels. The devices hitherto proposed for this purpose, however, suffer from the drawback that they are apt to produce an overheated fuel-air mixture which, on entering the relatively cooler engine, becomes to some extent condensed and thus likewise leads to imperfect combustion and uneconomical running.

The device according to the present invention' obviates the above-mentioned drawbacks and 40 consists essentially in an atomizing chamber interposed between the carburettor and the induction pipe of the engine and provided with heating means for the maintenance of a suitable temperature during starting and slow running of the engine. The inventionfurther provides for the automatic discontinuance of the said heating at the required moment and for the subsequent heating of the atomizing chamber by means of the combustion gases from the exhaust of the engine.

' A form of construction embodying the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the entire device in horizontal longitudinal section. 7

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the combined manifold.

Referring to Fig 1, the device consists'of the induction pipe 8 having adjoining it in .a midway position the flanged tube I. Within the tube I there is arranged the atomizing chamber 2 which on its inner surface may be provided with the electric heating element 311, 3b. This heating element 3a, 3b is connected by means of the conductors 3 3 to the source of current 3. Apart from the electric heating element 30,, 3b, and separated therefrom by a partition, there is also provided in the atomizing chamber 2 a system of propeller blades 5 adapted to rotate about a shaft 4, The device according to the invention further comprises an annular chamber or jacket Hlb which surrounds at least part of the atomizing chamber, and which communicates with the exhaust pipe 9 by-means of the pipes l0 and Illa, and on the other hand with the outside atmosphere by means of the dis-- charge pipe lllc. This system of pipes l0, Illa, and H10 thus constitutes, together with the annular chamber or jacket lob, a by-pass from the exhaust pipe of the engine for the heating of the atomizing chamber by means of the hot exhaust gases.

In the induction pipe 8 there may be further arranged a plateta which is provided with per-.

forations 6b, and of which the portion'extending into the tube 1 forms with the latter the annular' space 1, la. On the outside of the exhaust manifold 9 there may be provided the cooling and heat-distributing ribs Ila, llb, He, He (Fig. 2). Finally, between the exhaust manifold 9 and the induction pipe 8 there may b'eprovided an air cooling space l2 communicating with the outside atmosphere (see Figs. 1 and 2). v

The suction of the engine draws the fuelair mixture from the carburettor in the direction of the arrow la into the atomizing chamber which v is suitably heated by the electric heating element 3a, 3b connected into circuit with thesourcev of current 3 on the starting ofthe engine. The I fuel particlesin the mixture are further broken up by the action of the rotating propeller system which is rotated by the suction of the engine,

and at the same time flung thereby against the,

partition covering the heating e1ement3a, 3b. The fuel thus becomes extremely finely atomized and thoroughly commixed with the air, and the mixture thus produced passes on into the induction pipe 8. I

As soon as the engine 'has attained a. certain speed the heating element/is cut off from the source of current 3, whereupon the heating jacket lllb is brought into action. The hot waste gases pass from the exhaust manifold through the bypass pipes I and Illa intothe annular chamber 1 0b where they give up their heat to the atomizing chamber 2, to promote the atomizationof the fuel after the auxiliary. electric heater has been cut off. The by-pass pipes ID are disposed parallel with and in close proximity to the portions of the induction pipe 8 furthest removed from the heated atomizing chamber 2, so that any nonvaporized fuel happening to be carried along by the mixture into the induction pipe 8 becomes effectually vaporized in the latter in consequence of the heat transmitted thereto from the by-pass pipes l0 traversed by the hot exhaust gases.

I haust manifold of an internal combustion engine;

The particles of fuel passing unvaporized into the induction pipe and condensing therein when the engine is cold or running slow pass through the perforations 6b in the plate Ba-into the annular chamber I, la where they are vaporized by the heat from the chamber lilb and returned in a gaseous state into the induction pipes as a fuel reserve. The by-passed exhaust gases, after having fulfilled their purpose in assisting the atomization of the fuel, escape into the open by way of the discharge pipe lilo. The actual construction of the auxiliary atomizing device according-to the present invention 0 can be modified to any extent without departing "from the spirit and scope of the invention, the construction here described and illustrated bein intended merely to serve as an example. So, for instance, when highly volatile fuels are used such as gasoline, or benzine, the electrical heating means may be dispensed with and also the baffle plates, the main purpose of the invention being to maintain the fuel charge at the constant temperature until it enters into the engine cylinders. This purpose is accomplishedas indicated in the specification by circulating the exhaust gases around the atomizing chamber and by arranging the by-pass pipe as. well as the discharge pipe' alongside and parallel to the intake manifold 5 so that there is a heat exchange relationship between the two.

The new device according to the invention can be constructed. either as a small unit for I interposition between the carburettor .and the induction pipe of the engine, or, more particularly for use with engines having the induction pipe and the-exhaust manifold on the same side of the engine, as a larger unit comprising exhaust manifold, intake manifold, and atomizing device proper.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold at least partly surroundingthe said intake manifold, a tubular casing adjoining the said intake manifold, atomizing means in the said casing, a jacket surrounding the said chamber at least in part, a by-pass pipe from the said exhaust manifold and com- 5 municating'with the said jacket, and a discharge pipe connected 'to the said jacket and communieating withthe outside atmosphere, the said bypass pipeand discharge pipe being enlarged in diameter-for at least a portion of their length and disposed alongside and in closeproximity to the said intake' manifold. v

2. In an internal combustion engine an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold at least partly surrounding the said intake manifold, a tubular casing adjoining-the said intake manifold, atomizing means in the said casing, a jacket surrounding the said chamber at least in part, a by-pass pipe from the said exhaust manifold and communicating with the said jacket, a discharge pipe.

connected to the said jacket and communicating with the outside atmosphere, 2. baflle plate dis- .posed substantially parallel to the side of the said induction pipe nearest the said chamber and extending into the annular space between the said chamber and tubular casing as far as the said jacket, and perforations in the said baille plate, the said by-pass pipe and the said discharge pipe being enlarged in diameter for at least a portion of their length 'and disposed alongside and in close proximity to the said intake manifold.

3. The combination with the intake and exof an auxiliary fuel atomizer comprising a tubular casing adapted to be connected to said intake manifold, means forming an atomizing chamber within said casing and spaced from the walls thereof whereby an annular space comhaust manifold, and secondary heating means comprising baflle plates for receiving the nonvaporized portion of the fuel charge within said intake manifold and extending into said annular space to said heating jacket, whereby complete vaporization is obtained.

4. The combination with the intake and ex-' haust manifolds of an internal combustion, engine and a. source of electric current of an auxiliary fuel atomizer comprising a tubular casing adapted to be connected to said intake manifold, means forming an atomizing chamber within said casing, means for preliminary heating the charge in said chamber, comprising laterally disposed electric heating elements in said chamber adapted to be connected to said source of electric current whereby said fuel charge is partly vaporized, and secondary heating means at least partly within said intake manifold, whereby complete vaporization is obtained.

5. The combination with the intake and ex? haust manifolds of an internal combustion en- 'gine and a source of electric current; of an auxiliary fuel atomizer comprising a tubular casing adapted to be connected to said intake manifold,

means forming an atomizing chamber within said casing and spaced from the walls thereof whereby an annular space communicating direct with said intake manifold is formed, means for preliminary heating the fuel charge in said chamber, comprising laterally disposed heating elements in'sald chamber adapted to be connected to said source of electric current, a jacket partly occupying said annular space and a by-pass pipe connecting said jacket with said exhaust manifold, and secondary heating means comprising baflle plates for receiving the non-vaporized portion of the fuel charge within said intake manifold and extending into said annular space to said heating jacket, whereby complete vaporization is obtained. 6. A fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines of the type having an intake manifold,

an exhaust manifold and a carburator compris- -'ing a casing positioned intermediate the intake manifold and the carburetor, an atomizing chamber in said casing communicating with the carburator and the intake manifold, a heating jacket at least partly surrounding said atomizing chamber, means for circulating the exhaust gases in said heating jacket, said means being disposed alongside of at least" a portion of the intake manifold and in near proximity thereof whereby uniform temperature of the vaporizing fuel charge is obtained'and condensation prevented in said intake manifold.

7. The combination with the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine; of a fuel vaporizer comprising a casing adapted to be connected-to said intake manifold and to the carburator oi the engine, an atomizing chamber within said casing communicating with the carburetor and the intake manifold, a heating jacket at least partly surrounding said atomizing chamber, means for circulating the exhaust gases in said heating jacket, said means comprising a by-pass pipe from said exhaust manifold and a discharge pipe communicating with the outside atmosphere, said bypass pipe and said discharge pipe being disposed alongside of said intake manifold and in near proximity thereof, whereby uniform temperature of the vaporizing fuel charge is obtained and condensation prevented in said intake manifold,

8. The combination with an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and a carburator of an internal combustion engine; of a fuel vaporizer comprising a casing connected intermediate said intake manifold and said carburatonan atomn jacket said bafiie plates extending within said intake manifold substantially parallel to the walls thereof.

, her from said jacket.

9. The combination with an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold and a carburator of an internal combustion engine; of a fuel vaporizer comprising a casing connected intermediate said intake manifold and said carburator, an atomizing. chamber in said casing communicating with the carburator and the intake manifold, a heating jacket at least partly surrounding said atomizing chamber, means for circulating the exhaust gases in said heating jacket, said means comprising a by-pass pipe from said exhaust manifold and a discharge pipe communicating with the outside atmosphere, said by-pass pipe and said discharge pipe being disposed alongside and in close proximity to said intake manifold at least for a portion of its length, bafile plates positioned in heat exchange relationship with said heating jacket and extending within said intake manifold substantially parallel to the walls thereof.

10. In an internal combustion engine, means forming an atomizing chamber, a heating element situated within said chamber for the preliminary heating of the air-gas mixture, an exhaust pipe and a jacket situated adjacent said atomizing chamber in heat-conducting relationship thereto, said jacket being adapted to be connected with said exhaust pipe to transmit exhaust gases passing therethrough, the heat of the exhaust gases being transmitted to said atomizing chamber to heat the air-gas mixture after the interruption of said preliminary heating, another chamber adjacent said jacket and in heat-conducting relationship thereto, and means connected with the last-mentioned chamber for collecting unva'porized fuel particles and for transmitting them to the last-mentioned chamber, said fuel particles being vaporized by the heat transmitted to the last-mentioned cham- JOHN E. GOMBOS. 

